(19)

(11)

EP 1 446 657 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 08.01.2004 (43) Date of publication: 18.08.2004 Bulletin 2004/34 (21) Application number: 02789470.8 (22) Date of filing: 07.11.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 21/95, G01N 21/956 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/035640 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/040709 (15.05.2003 Gazette 2003/20)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 07.11.2001 US 986138 (71) Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc. Santa Clara,California 95054 (US)	(72) Inventors: ALMOGY, Gilad 53257 Givatayim (IL) RECHES, Oren 42823 Zoran (IL) (74) Representative: Bayliss, Geoffrey Cyril et al BOULT WADE TENNANT,Verulam Gardens70 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8BT London WC1X 8BT (GB)